Life is an Adventure…

This summer I went on a quick “long weekend” road trip with my seventeen year old son and his girlfriend. I needed some fresh air and a little breathing room. We went to Chama, New Mexico which is about a 14 hour drive from Los Angeles, California. (This is not a sponsored post, I received some Gaslamp Gourmet Popcorn to sample, all opinions are entirely my own. See my disclosure for more on why I post articles like this on my blog.)

On this journey of life, there are many paths. Some are paved and prepped for us. Many have traveled them and we know exactly where the road will lead. Some are new, and less traveled. Some paths are just being discovered. What path am I on?

As I look at the photos I took while on my short adventure, I am reminded that no matter what path I choose, there is always a comforting light to guide my way. The light may be seen in the smiling face of a loved one, the setting sun, or a gas lamp on a dusty road. There is always a light, all I have to do is look for it.

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…Pop Into It!

This story was inspired by Gaslamp Popcorn Company. RMD Advertising provided me with two bags of Gaslamp brand popcorn for review which came just as I was leaving on the road trip. We took the bags along and gobbled up the amazing popcorn on the ride.

I highly recommend the Gaslamp Popcorn Company Kettle Corn – it is my favorite. For a bagged popcorn, it was very fresh and for a kettle corn that is sweetened, it was light and fluffy and not sticky at all. They have many gourmet flavors to choose from and are available everywhere! Check them out at Gaslamppopcorn.com

Gaslamp Gourmet popcorn is made in California! I’m a Native Californian, so I am proud of that fact, baby!

National Dog Day is Aug. 26, a date set aside to celebrate dogs, recognize the number that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledge our canine friends who work to save lives and bring comfort.

In honor of this dog-gone good holiday, Lucky the TurfMutt, a rescue dog himself and the official spokesdog of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) environmental education program – TurfMutt.com – encourages pet parents to reevaluate their family yard to ensure it’s appropriate for their furry friends.

The information here was provided by Four Leaf PR on Behalf of OPEI and TurfMutt. I was not compensated to post this on my blog. This is not a sponsored advertisement. See my disclosure to find out why I post articles like this on MizMeliz.com.

Fall is a time for planting in advance of the next year’s spring season. Here are TurfMutt’s top five tips for ensuring the family yard is a place everyone can enjoy year-round.

TurfMutt Celebrates National Dog Day with Five Pet-Friendly Tips for the Family Yard
TurfMutt encourages pet parents to use National Dog Day (Aug. 26) to spruce up the family yard for pets:

Consider your dog’s needs
Each dog – senior, puppy, small, big, active breed or not-so-much – has different needs. Is your dog a water hound? Maybe you should include a splash pool or water fountain. Got a digger? A sand pit might work well to keep your dog entertained – and the mess contained. Does your dog love to run the perimeter of your yard? Design your yard with his path in mind. Does she have dog friends next door? Maybe an eye-level hole in the fence would keep her from barking. Jot down everything your dog needs from your family yard, then you map out your landscaping accordingly.

Keep your pet safe & sound
One of the most important pet features in your family yard is a secure fence – whether it’s made of wood, metal, vinyl or concrete. Inspect and fix your fence – or install one – so you can rest easy knowing your dog is safely within the boundary of your yard.

Include turfgrass
Turfgrass is safe – unlike concrete, asphalt or hard ground – and offers your pet a soft, cool spot to lie down, even during the hottest conditions. It also creates a comfortable backyard playground, and provides a place to take care of business – just be sure to clean up regularly! There are many types of turfgrass that can handle “ruff-housing” from dogs and kids alike. Check your climate zone to make sure you’re selecting an appropriate grass species for where you live. (Another bonus benefit is grass is very good at capturing and filtering rainwater.)

Select the right plants
You’ll want to have a balance of grass, flower plants, trees and shrubs in your family yard. Including this mix of species will not only be beautiful, it will also help support biodiversity. Remember, nature starts in your own backyard! Keeping your climate zone in mind, select appropriate landscaping for the areas you’ve identified in your yard. Around walking paths, for instance, you’ll want to include sturdy, yet soft foliage that can stand up to puppy and people traffic without scratching. Use elevated boxes and patio planters for more delicate flowering plants.

Avoid toxic plants
One last word of important advice – there are some plants and shrubs that are poisonous to dogs. You’ll want to avoid these in your outdoor living room entirely. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a list of toxic plants that you should refer to when shopping for your family yard.

About TurfMutt
TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation and has reached more than 68 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. TurfMutt’s personal, home habitat also is featured in the 2017 and the upcoming 2018 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars.

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.

​​When I got this email out of the blue, I jumped for joy! I’ve been hoping for an opportunity like this. If you watch my livestream shows, you know I always wear lipstick. It’s my thing!

I did a live demo trying LipSense for the first time on SnapChat. LipSense claims to be Kiss Proof, Smudge Proof, and Water Proof. I just had to see for myself. See the video for the results!

Here is what Brittany said:

“I have been creeping your blog for quite awhile haha, and l really love your positive style. I’m a local Southern California mom as well and I was actually wondering if you might be interested in a doing a review…”

Oh Yeah! I am interested!

Thanks Brittany!

LipSense, I’m excited!

What do you think? Have you tried it yet?

Check out Last Night’s Show with Miz Meliz LIVE! on BubblrMedia every Saturday night to see the Fly Girl LipSense lip color and gloss in action!

If you want to try it – reach out to Brittany: kissntellmurrieta@gmail.com

I’m taking the Live Streaming Pros Challenge: Live Every Day in August. When Luria Petrucci asked us to write in the comments during her broadcast yesterday, “I commit.” I did it. I started today.

I decided to list 31 things about myself. These will be my daily topics. So, tune in, chime in, and let’s talk! Five minutes a day is all it takes. I’ll stream live from Facebook.com/MizMelizLA I will try my best to stick to consistent times. I hope to see you there!

31 Things About Me

August 4: My favorite color is red
August 8: I love living in Southern California
I’ve been married 25 years
I have three sons
I have three cats
My best friend lives in NH
I love to paint
I want to travel
I want to write another book
I love yoga
I love Jeeps
I love Chocolate
I love the beach
I miss shopping
I like gardening
I want a helicopter
I want to go on a tropical vacation
I love 80s music
I am a wordsmith/poet
I love talking to people
I did the 100 Day Promise
I did the 100mandala challenge
I love roses
I love hats
Social media is my jam
I believe in having a vision
I’m a certified professional life coach
I love to sing but I can’t
I love sailing
BubblrMedia is my dream business
Live-streaming is the main vehicle I use to deliver my message, it’s the one I enjoy driving the best!

A word about challenges…

This is my challenge. I am accepting it now because I believe it will help me with instituting a daily practice of delivering fresh content in my live feed on Facebook. This is something I’ve wanted to do for awhile. I’ve joined other challenges and I have found it to be an effective way for me to develop routines, hone skills, and be better at what I am doing.

There has been some discussion around the interwebs about how these challenges clutter up the feeds and become like junk mail in our already minutiae laden datasphere. I say, stay calm and scroll on! You are in control of what you consume. If you don’t like to see people try to make themselves get better at something, if seeing too much video content is starting to bore you, then it might be time for you to unplug for awhile. Video, especially live video, is on the rise!

I’m speaking at ConnectHer Media’s Women in Business Conference #ConnectHer17 on Using Video to Help Build Your Brand Effectively with Andrea Corson of Video Pop and Aaron M. Sanchez of KMET ABC News Radio on August 5-6, 2017.